At the Engage Luxury Wedding Summit in June, therapist and entrepreneurial coach Andy Maurer gave the most impactful and self-reflective speech at a breakout session - "Toxic Stress and How It's Killing Your Business". Many people left that session crying. I told as many people I could about it but could never do the speech justice. So I had to have Andy back on the show today to share his breakout session, what toxic stress is and where it comes from, and some tips on how to alleviate it. If you have stress in your life - hello wedding industry! - you won't want to miss this one!

Announcements as heard on the show:

1) Come join me and some of the top wedding vendors in the Triangle THIS SUNDAY, Aug 4th from 4-6pm at the Barn of Chapel Hill Open House! It is planned by our good friends and podcast supporters over at Harmony Weddings and Events. Tour one of our very favorite venues, sample food, drinks and cake and meet wedding vendors of all kinds. Tickets are FREE. See you there!

2) We are beyond excited for our first LIVE recording on August 21st in Raleigh at The Laurelbrook from 10am-12pm! Our topic will be “How to Stay Committed to Boundaries”, and we invite you to submit a story about when a client might have gone a liiiiitttttle bit past the boundaries on respect, budget, contract, comfort zone, or anything else really. Feel free to email your story to podcast@weddingsforreal.com, and if we use it in the live show (anonymously, no names!) we’ll send you a little thank you gift!

Tickets are available here and include fresh coffee, delicious donuts, some guaranteed laughter and camaraderie. Hope to see you there!

About Andy Maurer:

As a speaker and licensed therapist, Andy works with high performance leaders, including CEO’s, founders, entrepreneurs, professional athletes, and TV personalities, educating and equipping them on the issue of toxic stress and trauma and its impact on their work and relationships. He uses mindfulness and experiential based exercises to help leaders build awareness, develop meaningful relationships, and create a purposeful and successful life.

Andy Maurer on Social Media:

Instagram: @andymaurer_

LinkedIn: @andymaurer

Styled Shoots. You get your friendors together and create a completely unique pretend wedding that you don't have to plan out for months. They seem easy right? Well, not exactly. Styled shoots can cost money, time, and sanity, so today, Leah Weinberg from Color Pop Events in New York City comes on to share her 3 Do's and 3 Don't's for Styled Shoots!

Support this show by supporting our sponsor:

BetterHelp.com is affordable, private, online counseling. Anytime, Anywhere! By going to BetterHelp.com/WeddingsForReal, you get 10% off your first month.

Weekend Wine Down Time! Megan and Jason talk about the live show coming up in August, where to spend a long weekend, and 9 years of A Southern Soiree!

The host of Weddings for Real is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com.

Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence.

In a wedding market already filled with planners, photographers, videographers, DJs, florists....every wedding vendor you can possibly imagine, how can you possibly stand out? Raleigh-based wedding photographer Julia Wade is one of a kind, and she shares her tips for individuality in a saturated market!

Support this show by supporting our sponsors:

Visit MyPinkPartyBox.com for Vendor Gifts and Hotel Welcome Boxes!

BetterHelp.com is affordable, private, online counseling. Anytime, Anywhere! By going to BetterHelp.com/WeddingsForReal, you get 10% off your first month.

Julia Wade on Social Media:

Instagram: @juliawade

Facebook: @juliawadephotography

Michelle Loretta from Sage Wedding Pros is a wedding business consultant with a mind for numbers and a passion for business plans! Today she comes on the show to talk all about how to make your big business decisions, and it can't be just because your competitors are doing it.

Sage Wedding Pros on Social Media:

Instagram: @SageWeddingPros

Facebook: @SageWeddingPros

twitter: @SageWeddingPros

Kinsey Roberts is the owner Vista View Events on Open Heart Ranch in Colorado, but you probably know her best as the fabulous host of the She Creates Business Podcast! Today, Kinsey comes on the show to talk all about opening up a wedding venue! What are some tips and recommendations to help you through the process? And what are some potential landmines to avoid?

On the show, Kinsey recommends hiring Lindsay Lucas if you're interested in guidance on how exactly to open up a venue and how to deal with some of the county ordinances (and other things you don't even think about). Lindsay can be found at https://thelindsaylucas.com/.

Support this podcast by supporting our sponsor, BetterHelp.com!

BetterHelp is affordable, private, online counseling. Anytime, Anywhere! By going to BetterHelp.com/WeddingsForReal, you get 10% off your first month.

The latest Engage! Summit was June 10-13th in the Bahamas, and Megan was there for the full luxury wedding and event education experience! And today, she shares her top ten takeaways from the speakers she heard.

Tips are from:

1) Hayley Paige (14:10)

2) Amirah Kassem (18:40)

3) Cindy Novotny (22:30)

4) Duncan Wardle (26:50)

5) Julian Leaver (31:55)

6) Tracie Domino (35:10)

7) Tracie Domino again (36:55)

8) Andy Maurer (37:55)

9) Jove Meyer (40:55)

10) Mike Michalowicz (43:50)

Support this podcast by supporting our sponsor, BetterHelp.com!

BetterHelp is affordable, private, online counseling. Anytime, Anywhere! By going to BetterHelp.com/WeddingsForReal, you get 10% off your first month.

Engage Summits on Social Media:

Facebook: @EngageSummits

Instagram: @EngageSummits

twitter: @EngageSummits

Generation Z is the next generation of consumers and (wedding) clients. Christie Osborne from Mountainside Media is an expert on analytics and marketing, specifically for the wedding industry. And today she comes on to talk about what's different about Generation Z, what's the same, and what we as wedding vendors should be doing to get ready for this group!

Support this podcast by supporting our sponsor, Storyworth!

For a really cool Father's Day (or any time) gift, visit StoryWorth.com/WeddingsForReal for $20 off your subscription! With Storyworth, you or a loved one answers questions about your life weekly, and at the end of the year, those stories are bound into a keepsake book!